Feb. 8, 2017: Convocation and Strategic Planning

I am grateful for your time and attention at Founders Week Convocation yesterday afternoon. The announcement of Goal Categories and Goal Stewards culminates sustained engagement of our community over the last year and a half. The listening sessions in fall 2015 shaped my address at Convocation last year. The Area Examen process then continued our campus-wide conversations in spring 2016. And then in summer, we formalized the planning process that continued work throughout fall 2016 in the President’s Planning Committee and the Steering Committee. We entered the Christmas season energized to bring focus to our work and move to action.

Our plan has gained tremendous momentum. Your hopes for our community meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. The Goal Categories that I identified through our communal discernment will define the scope of our work; the Goal Stewards that I selected and named with thoughtful attention will engage us to mobilize tradition for innovation. I am excited to see the fruits of their leadership.

I conclude with my appreciation for all that you do. From all corners of campus, and from all aspects of work and service at Creighton University, the daily commitment of talent and passion by our faculty and staff shapes our future, and our dreams will manifest local, national, and global renown.